Writing about whatever interests me, and maybe you.

2016-01-11 training log

Today marks the last/heavy week of the hypertrophy phase of the Inception program. Next week is deload, then the week after starts the strength phase. Thus, the goal for today is to determine what the “max” will be to use for that strength phase. This is done by working up to an all-out set of 5 reps, no reps left on the table.

Well… I left at least 1 rep.

Based on how last week went, I figured working up to 265 would happen. As I was progressing this morning, 265 felt good. And sure enough, it did happen. But I could have gotten at least 1 more rep. As well, I may actually have been able to use 270 or 275 — yeah, I was feeling pretty good, but that good didn’t really hit until the end. Everything was firing well, tightness, technique, all there. And so the 265 came and went…. but… what was I to do? Should I have went for more reps? Should I have done another set at a slightly higher weight?

Whatever. Doesn’t matter now. I think the 265 is reasonable enough — it’s always better to be conservative, under-estimate, err on the lighter side. And when I calc the 1RM on things, it’s at about 305. Thing is, if I was really working up to a 1RM I wouldn’t be doing as much volume as to this 5RM, so I’d have a little more in me and well, maybe 315? Again, all speculation and lots goes into it, and it really doesn’t matter much. BUT, what it does tell me is that yes, all the strength I lost while defattening is returning quickly, that setting a new lifetime PR isn’t too far into the future, and that at the end of this upcoming strength phase that well… 315 is possible. We’ll have to see how the phase goes, but it’s in the realm. And I dig that, because hey, to be close to my previous best AND arguably 2 weight-classes lighter? Hell, I’ll take that!

So all in all, I’m happy with the progress and how things have been going for me.